This space has gone silent … it happened the last time around too. As it turns out, chasing two vibrant kids + working full time + living life doesn’t leave me much time to check in here. And, because I didn’t feel like I could just let it go, I wanted to officially put this space on pause for awhile.

Maple is 14 months old now. She’s a happy, mischievous, loving, loud baby. Sleep is getting better … she’s kind of picky … she is obsessed with mom, and has her moments with dad. She’s not quite walking yet, but is really loving her little walker. She just started preschool, and she’s adapting slowly, but having really good days, overall.

Alba is so 4.5. She’s continuing to test all boundaries, and is so full of her own energy and personality. She’s truly one of a kind. She’s so funny, stubborn, loving, and so incredibly smart. She has two settings: sleeping or talking a million miles per minute. She’s super into music and art right now, and loves sending people handwritten cards.

We (Jim and I) are good. We’re busy, but not glorifying that … we’re working hard to realize some dreams we have. We’re wondering if we want to stay in Portland. If a “9-5” is the best fit for us. What we’re working so hard for (daycare in Portland is bananas). For now, we’re keeping at it. Days are go-go-go, and evenings are usually spent catching up on TV, and eating ice cream on the couch. I really can’t complain.

Even though we won’t be checking in here for awhile, I do share a lot over on Instagram. I hope to see you there.

My sweetest girl … you are so much of my world. So much so that I haven’t had time to sit and reflect about your last few months. I think my last post was when you were 4 months old, which is kind of crazy (so much has changed). I have notes on my phone about those 4 missing months, and I’ll try my hardest to get them together before you go to college. Deal? PS, you look a whole lot like your sister right now.

You are still such a dream. I absolutely love thinking about the little person you’re becoming. Your sweetness is balanced perfectly by a bit of silly. You love observing, but you’re also super vocal if things aren’t to your liking. You prefer to be held 99.45% of each day, and your preference for mama is stronggg.

We’re still sharing a room, and it’s going … ok. You haven’t been the best sleeper over the last few months, but when we share a bed (sorry, papa), we have a great night of sleep. You still wake me most mornings by stirring around and making sweet noises. We have our morning smile session, and you snuggle for milk first thing. We’re in a really, really good groove of balancing changes and feedings (well, your dad and I are … we’d encourage you to sleep more at night, thanks).

Oh, you have TEETH. When you first turned 8 months old, you just had one, so we’ll talk about that. Your bottom-right tooth came in first, and it is sharp. One of your favorite pastimes is biting me while you’re nursing, which turns out, is my least favorite thing. I’m thankful you’re mostly past it at this point.

I’m still nursing you, and there’s not too much to say about that whole deal. It’s going really well, and I’m happy that we’re still at it. I’m guessing with your love of food (more in a sec), you’ll probably nurse until you’re about 1 or 1.5, but hey, you could surprise me!

Food is going awesome. You LOVE to eat … like, you grunt and growl if we aren’t giving you food. Like with Alba, we started solids with the Baby Led Weaning approach – giving you large pieces of normal food. You’ve done great, and really only gagged on a mushroom and brussels sprouts. You love sipping water from cups, and you’d make out with my water bottle all day if I let you.

Besides boobs, Alba, food and dad, you are super into baskets full of stuff. You like hitting toys together, chewing on everything, and exploring each little toy in front of you. You can sit up like a champ now, so sitting and focusing on figuring things out has been fun for you.

I’ve loved watching how you and your sister interact. You two are such a part of each other’s hearts … you’re still a bit of a doll to her, and she would try carrying you around all day if we let her. Alba loves making you love and always offers to help us when it comes to changing/feeding/bathing/etc. She’s seriously the sweetest big sister, even though I sometimes wonder if we completely rocked her world by having another baby.

Maple, if I had to pick one word for you (and it’s relative because you are a baby), it would be “content”. You are just a little pixie of a human – a true dream of a baby. I am so, so lucky you’re ours. I forgot how much I love this age, and I’m really, really excited about this upcoming summer). We love you to the moon and back.

Oh, my little light, I cannot believe you’re already four months old. Time is going so fast, but at the same time, it feels like you’ve been with us for so long. Just like with your sister, your newborn days are gone – you’re turning into a baby who’s growing and changing every single day.

This month has been the biggest leap so far … we assume the reason you stopped sleeping (4 month sleep regression) is that you are developing at warp speed. I’ll get to the sleep in a second, but during your awake time, there are some big things happening. You’ve started enjoying more tummy time, and you’re really pushing yourself up and super curious about your surroundings. Yesterday, you rolled from your back to your belly for the first time, and we were all there to see it. So. Much. Joy.

While it’s not consistent just yet, you have started laughing!! So far, mama is the only one who has been able to make you laugh, but we think you’re close to doing it more. You are by far the smiliest baby we’ve ever seen. Your favorite thing is just laying down and chatting/smiling with us.

Like last time, I wanted to copy and paste a section from Alba’s 4 month update, because it applies to you too: Everyone comments on how easy going you are, and I have to agree: you’re the easiest baby in the world. At least in my world. You only fuss when you’re hungry or tired … Evenings can be a little challenging.

I totally forgot about the 4 month sleep regression, but it has hit us really hard. You were sleeping 11 hours solid, and now it usually takes over 2 hours to get you officially settled for the night. We’re going to keep hanging out with you in the evenings for a couple more months before we do some gentle sleep training.

Breastfeeding is so great. SO GREAT. I’m enjoying my last two months of exclusive nursing before we introduce your first solids. I plan to keep nursing you as long as it works for both of us. My favorite thing is when you’re nursing and you stop to smile at me.

We had your more in-depth hearing screening done … they think you have some minor low frequency hearing loss, but it shouldn’t affect much. We’ll get more testing done when you’re a little older.

I love that we’re sharing a room – mornings are so much fun … you usually wake in a cheerful mood, let out a few toots, and start chattering for me to pick you up. You sleep really well when you’re in bed with me, but we’re working on getting longer stretches in your co-sleeper. Really, I love sleeping with my babies, and since you’re my last one, I’m treasuring it.

Your favorite toys are teethers and a little crinkly dinosaur book. And, since your sister watches a little TV these days, I’ve noticed you’re obsessed with screens. Obviously we’re trying to avoid that, but it makes us laugh when we catch you looking at screens.

As we mark a 1/3 of a year that you’ve been earth side, I just count my blessings each day. I feel so very lucky to be your mama. You are the most perfect human to complete our family, and I’m so, so happy we’re doin life together.

Our sweet Maple, you are now 3 months old. This marks the end of your 4th trimester … Little lady, we are so very in love with you. With your sister, I really craved the early days and never wanted them to end. With you, being the 2nd baby (and because of germs), I’ve been excited for you to reach this milestone. We’re so, so in love with you, and I can’t believe it’s only been 3 months!!

I tell everyone that you’re the happiest baby on earth. I’ve seriously never met a more chill, happy baby. Your smiles are abundant, and you love cooing and chatting with us. You’re always super talkative first thing in the morning – during your epic stretch sessions. You haven’t laughed just yet, but I assume it’s coming soon.

We had another hearing screening done, and you still didn’t pass. We’re gearing up for a more in-depth screening next week. No matter how it turns out, we’re equipped to ensure you have a full, magical life – 100% hearing or not.

I’m looking at your sister’s 3 month post as I type this, and I’m already seeing some differences. She had already laughed, and loved tummy time. With you, tummy time happens every other day or so, and you’re slowly getting more accustomed to it. Just like your sister at this age, you’re a really, really good sleeper at night. You’re in your co-sleeper for most of the night, and only really wake up once to eat. We cuddle from about 4 or 5 until we get up at 7. Your schedule is pretty consistent, and I’m thankful for it.

Speaking of your sister: we’re coming out of a hard season with her. She had a hard time when you turned two months old, but now, we’re all finding a beautiful groove. She’s so in love with you … she still loves helping take care of you.

We’re getting out and doing more as a family … this month we visited the pumpkin patch with Audrey, did lots of walks, went to the annual Davis Pumpkin party, visited the beach house with the Murrays, and you had your first Halloween (you were the sweetest little ladybug).

As of this last month, you’re 100% breastfed. This never happened with Alba, and I am so thankful we made it happen this month. Funny enough, it’s still hard work: bottles, frozen milk, pumping, supplements, etc., but we’re doing it.

I’m really looking forward to this next month. We’re excited for laughs, more movement and interaction, and seeing how you develop your motor skills. You Yaya is coming back for a long visit, so I’m sure you’ll be spoiled!

Baby girl, you are like sunshine … you just brighten our lives every single day! I love that you smile about 8,304 times a day … I love that you chat & coo with us. You’re now a 1/4 of a year old, and while it makes my head spin, I love to watch you grow. We love you so much! (I copied this from Alba’s post, and ya know what – it turns out: I love my babies!!)

There are so many days that I look at you now and think, “You’re SO BIG!” – now that you’re about 10 pounds, you’re still relatively small, but it’s just the realization that our newborn days are coming to an end. Here’s what we’ve been up to this month …

Surprisingly, we’ve been sleeping! Your 2 hour stretches have gotten a bit longer, and you have quite a consistent pattern at night. You sleep for about 4-5 hours, then about 3-4 more … if it weren’t for your sister’s daycare dropoff, you might even sleep a bit more. You’re a champ, kid! Your tired parents appreciate it!

Breastfeeding has been getting easier! My pain still persists, but it’s manageable. The best news is that my supply is almost at the volume you need (maybe it is there?) … I have a bit of a freezer stash established, and we’re really doing it. You have a little formula each day, but there are some days we don’t need it. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve faced these challenges before (or that it really is better this time), but I have no complaints. You are thriving, and I am so, so happy!

You are starting to look a little less like your sister, and more like … MAMA! I knew from your profile images during our last ultrasound that you were going to resemble me, but over the last couple of weeks, it’s really become more apparent. Your eye lashes are growing, your cheeks are filling out, and you’re starting to get little rolls all over your scrumptious body. You’re dreamy!

Speaking of dreamy: you’re smiling!! You’re still pretty sleepy most days, but when you’re awake, you love interacting with us. Smiles and chatter are the best gift … your coos and little voice! And, one of our favorite things is your love of the ceiling fans. You could go hours without smiling at us, but you go into full flirting mode as soon as the fan catches your eye – it’s amazing!

Now that my body is feeling healed and strong, we’ve been getting outside more … with rain on the way, I’m soaking up any time in the sunshine with you. I can’t wait until you’re more alert and really start interacting with the outside world.

During this month, you got to meet your Aunt (YaYa) … she came to stay with us for a week, and got lots of cuddle time. We went to Mt. Hood, and had a little beach time. The day after she left, I celebrated my birthday … I can’t think of a better way to have celebrated 32, than with two beautiful daughters.

At your two month doctor check-up, we found out you were 10 lb. 13 oz., and 23 inches tall. That means you’ve gained 4 pounds and 5 (FIVE!) inches since you were born. You were so teeny when you were born, so seeing you grow this way gives me so much confidence.

Little one, you are the brightest beam of light. We’re so happy you’re here!

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